Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today confirmed the names of the six people on board the missing helicopter in Sarawak on Thursday.

They are Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon who is also Sungai Besar Member of Parliament (MP), her husband Asmuni Abdullah, as well as her bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun.

Also in the helicopter which was flying from Betong on the way to Kuching was Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad who is also Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman.

Others on board the helicopter were the ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai and the pilot Captain Rudolf Rex Ragas.

The search and rescue team today has found the parts of a helicopter believed to be from the missing AS350 chopper next to the Batang Lupar river at 9.50am.

"Assets will be deployed to carry on the search until the main body of the helicopter is found," Najib told a press conference in Kuching, Friday morning.

READ: [LIVE UPDATE] Debris found near river

VIDEO: Missing helicopter in Sarawak: Debris has been found - Najib

Among the parts found include the helicopter's door, a chair, floatation device and rotor blade.

According to Najib, assets will be deployed to continue the search until the main body of the helicopter is found.

The helicopter took off from Betong at 4.12pm on Thursday before losing contact at 4.32pm near Sebuyau.